We have all had the experience of heading down below on a nice boat only to encounter an unpleasant odour. This can come from a wide variety of sources, the most common being the head and sanitation system. We will deal with the issue of heads and holding tanks another time; however, there are plenty of other causes of a musty and off-putting smell.

Too many boats spend long winters shrink-wrapped with inadequate ventilation. The resulting condensation is a wonderful spawning ground for mould and general mustiness, especially if there are a few warm spring days before the boat is opened. Careful attention should be paid to air circulation during shrink-wrapping, and the head and holding tank need to be properly prepared for storage.

With spring around the corner here are a few products that will help freshen your boat and keep the air below healthy.

Stor-DryCaframo makes the Stor-Dry dual-actionair dryer, which uses a low wattage heating element and an internal fan to warm and circulate air. The warmth and circulation work together to minimise stale air pockets, which in turn prevent mould or mildew from forming on interior surfaces. Stor-Dry is available in 120- and 230-volt models.

Breathe Easy Air PurifierThere are several air purifiers on the market. The portable Breathe Easy Air Purifier from Domestic reduces unpleasant odours and harmful bacteria.With the Portable Breathe Easy Air Purifier, smells such as tobacco smoke, mildew, mustiness, chemical vapours, and toilet odours are replaced with fresher, cleaner, healthier air. The portable unit combines three air purification technologies to eliminate odours, remove harmful bacteria and pollutants, and reduce symptomsfrom allergies and asthma. Air entering the filtration system is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light that destroys bacterial pollutants and other allergens, such as cigarette smoke. Photocatalytic filtration is used to destroy gaseous odour-causing pollutants, like those from chemicals and oils typically used near boats.

Finally, the Breathe Easy Air Purifier uses innovative nanomesh technology to remove micro-organisms that contribute to allergy and asthma symptoms. Its compact size allows it to fit in a suitcase or backpack, yet it is effective in areas up to 500 square feet/ 800 cubic feet (113 cubic metres), making it perfect for use in boats. Plus, the worldwide AC power adapters included with the product make it ideal for all your travels.

No matter how good youron-board ventilation is,boats are damp places. Our top choices of products that use Tea-Tree oil to deal with odours are Kanberra Gel and TRAC TEAgel.

Kanberra GelKanberra Gel is described as a proprietary blend of pure Australian tea tree oils.At the micro-biotic level, the air itself absorbs the pharmaceutical grade oils. As the air circulates and lands on the source (the mould, mildew, etc.), Kanberra Gel begins neutralizing and eliminating problems and associated odours on contact. It does so naturally with no chemicals. Most importantly, the use of Kanberra Gel acts as a preventive program against these problems for up to 45 days after there is no longer gel in the container.

According to the company, each eight-ounce container will last from three to eight weeks. This is not a case of replacing one smell with another, as is done by various deodorisers;the result is odourless, clean air.

TRAC TEAgelEco-friendly TRAC TEAgel is specially formulated to naturally remove stubborn onboard odours.Similar to Kanberra Gel, TEAgel harnesses the unique properties of authentic Australian tea tree oil to naturally degrade odour-causing mould, mildew, and bacteria - leaving only clean, fresh air behind.In cold climates, TEAgel is the perfect choice to complement moisture absorption products during winter storage. Simply place TEAgel under the shrink-wrap, throughout the cabin, in the galley and heads, and anywhere else odour from moisture could be an issue.

In the end there is no substitute for clean, dry bilges and fresh air…and keep those smokers outside!